New toy: A shiny gold plumb bob

Thursday, June 2:

Having sketched lines on the floor where the new bridge wall will go, I needed to cut into the ceiling drywall where the top of the wall will connect to the attic floor structure.   What better excuse to go out and buy a shiny, new, gold plumb bob at Home Depot?



The red lines on the floor indicate where the wall will go. I dangled this gold plumb bob to find the spot on the ceiling that is directly above this floor point.





The plumb bob allowed me to draw these lines on the ceiling directly above the floor markings. I don't need perfect accuracy until I actually put the new wall up.

After chalking lines across the ceiling, I cut this channel out with my little Makita saw.

I am getting more skilled at removing drywall: I've begun using a fat wood chisel and hammer to make relatively clean cuts in the tight inside-corners where the saw won't quite reach.

The top of the new wall will tie into the bottom edges of the attic trusses.

I spent the rest of the morning ripping off drywall and pulling out nails that held it.

For all the work I need to do on this wall that adjoins the office, there was no point trying to preserve much of the drywall. It will be easier just to cover it all up with new drywall once I am done.

•  I need to put studs in the opening (where the plastic is). 
•  The wall will get an electrical outlet on the new, required AFCI circuit.
• On the same new circuit, I need to run a wire up this wall and through the attic for a carbon-monoxide detector that is required on the ceiling of the new room.
• On the right end, I need to frame one of the two small closets that will make this "Tea Room" count as an actual bedroom for resale value.